Attachment for phonographs.



G. W. VAN NORTWTCK.

ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION ILED AUG.20. T917.

1 5.56% 1 *5 1 Patented May 14, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

G. W. VAN NORTWICK.

ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJO, I917.

1,266,181, Patented May14,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR G. W lw flofirmc/c osrrsn snares GEGBG-E 'W. VAR NORTWICK, F DENVER, GGLORADO.

ATTACHMENT FOE PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed August 20, 191?.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Gnonon K, VAN NonrwIcK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and E State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for phonographs and its primary object resides in providing a simple appliance by which the needle-carrying element of the instrument is automatically retained in a raised position after it has been lifted to disengage the needle from the record. 7

By the use of my invention, accidental dropping of the needle or stylus onto the grooved zone of the record is positively avoided, and the arm bearing the needle may be moved across said zone for the purpose of returning the needle to original position after it has traversed the zone producing groove, without danger of its coming in contact with the grooved portion of the record and without scratching or otherwise mar-ring the same.

With the above object in view, my invention consists of the arrangement of parts and combinations of devices shown in the ac conipanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which- Figure l is a fragmentary elevation of a phonograph to which my attachment is applied,

Fig. 2, a section taken along the line 2-2-, Fig. -1,

Fig. 3, a horizontal section along the line 3-3, Fig. 1,

Figs 4, 5 and 6 sectional views showing modifications of the arm of the appliance shown in Fig. 1, i

Fig. 7, a fragmentary plan view of a phonograph showing my invention as applied to a tone-arm on which the sound-box and needle are carried through the instrumentality of a pivoted goose-neck, and

Fig. 8, a section taken along the line 88, Fig. 7.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the reference character 2 designates the motor-box of a phonograph, 3 the record carrying table which is rotatably supported thereon, 4 the tone-arm which is pivoted for lateral or upward movement upon a base 5, (l the sound-box secured at the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1%18.

Serial No. 187,159.

outer end of the arm, and 7 the stylus or needle attached to the sound box to engage a record 8 placed upon the revolving table. My attachment as applied to a phonograph of the above-described construction, comprises a curved rail 9 which by means of a flange 10 is fastened upon the top'of the motor-box adjacent and in concentric relation to the vertical pivotal axis of the tone-arm 4c.

Stops l2 and 13 formed on the flange at opposite ends of the rail are provided to limit the lateral movement of the tone-arm as will hereinafter be more fully explained. and a port '14 between one of said stops and the adjacent end of the rail, provides a passage for the movable member of the attachmentfrom one side of the rail to the other.

The movable member above referred to consists of an arm 15 which is rigidly secured to the tone-arm and which when said arm is in its normal operative position in which the needle is in engagement with the record, depends within the space between the rail and the base 5 as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. I

The arm carries a leaf-spring 16 which projects beyond its lower end and is fas- 'tened at its opposite end as at 17', for lateral deflection. I

In the operation of the phonograph the needle on the tone-arm after having traversed the groove of the record is lifted by movement of said arm about ahorizontal axis for the purpose of disengaging it from the record and returning it to its original position adjacent the .eriphery of the table upon which the record is supported.

The upward movement of thetone-arm causes the projecting end of the spring 16 I on the arm 15 to engage the concave rearward side of the rail and to thereby deflect until it has passed across the upper edge of the rail when it returns to its original position by its inherent resiliency.

/Vhen the tone-arm is subsequently released, the arm 15 extending across the upper edge of the rail. will support the same in a position in which the needle at its outer end is raised above the surface of the rec- 0rd. and it will be retained in this position during its entire movement between the two stops which determine the extent of the movement of the needle across the grooved zone of the record.

When the needle at the outer end of'the the record and thereby give more I! i for the ad ustn'ient oi the needle before it: s re.

placed on the record after the spring on the inn 15 has disengaged the rail A flange 13 on the stop 13 prevents by engagement with the arm 16, excessive downward move 'ment of the i10ll6-2l1111 before the needle is brought to u )osition above the record.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4:, pawl 18 slides in a recess in the end of the arm 15 and e coiled spriny l9 engaging the inner end thereof, are sidistituted tor the lenhspring of the first-described form.

In the construction shown in Fig. e pivoted trip 20 at the end of the 1,5 is yieldingly held in its normal posit on by e spring 21, and in the form shown in 6, the arm 15 is provided with ft rigid linger 22 and the rail is pivotelly inountedon its flange to yield by pressure oi the arm, against, the action of a. spring In the construction shown in Figs. '7 en 8 my invention has been shown as applie to a phonogreph-instrnnient in which the sound-box (Send the needle 7 are carried on a goose-neck 24; which is pivot-ally mounted 1 at the free end of the tone-arm t.

i All arm 25, the equivalent of the arm I of the first-described form, is rigidly secured to the goose-neck and provided w'th e laterally resilient spring; :26 which like spring 16 of the arm 15, projects heyond the outer end thereof.

A pivoted trip 27, a substitute for the rail 9, is mounted on a support secured to the end of the tone-arm to he engaged by the engagement with A record projecting end of the spring 26 when the goose neck is lifted to disengage the needle from the record.

The support is preferably made in-the form of a casing 28 which ineloses the pints of the attachment.

A. spring 29 yielding ly holds the trip in its normal position and a button 30 extending outside the casing is provided to more the trip about its pivot; against the pressure of the spring to release the arm 25 and there by permit the goose-neck to" reossunie its normal position in which the needle is in on the revolving table of the phonograph.

' A butter 31 made'oi rubber or other elas ie material is secured in the casing to a l, i p which minus the downward he goose-neck by engagement f L .i ii resilient inoventsnt o with the oft the recorih tne spring 26 engages the bent extremity 32 of the trip :2? and (tetierts laterally until it passes the same when by its engagement with the lower edge thereot it holds goose-neck in it position in whirh the needle is raised above the sun hire of the rccor The perils remain in this position during iirotnl movement of the tone-arm across erord until the tr j by pressure upon its nitton 30, moved out of the path of the gring on the arm which permits the nose-heel: to drop to its original position in which the needle on the sound-hex is in contact. with the record.

It will he nnderstoml without further illustration that any of the modified forms shown in Figs. ix 5 end (3 are applicable to the attachment illustrated in Figs. '2' and 8, and that other modifications in the construcion and ni'rnngeinont oi' the parts of my in- "tion may he resorted to within the spirit of the shine as defined in the following claims.

l. combination with the pivoted needle-enrrying element of n phonograph, of on are: eonnt -d therewith, a relatively stationz'i i ppilttlltf-Q cooperating with said arm to oi .t the pivotal movement of the elenient. end :i yielding member on the arm ndxipted to pernnt ot' its passing said ohnctive zipplhnicc e determinate point in movement of said element to raise the whe eh to cause said appliance tov "he return movement of the some. 4..ih1i combination with the pivoted needle-currying element of a Qhonogrnph, of on sun connected therewith, a spring on said anion adapted to yield in one direction, and an appliance cooperating with said arm to obstruct the pivotal nniveinent of the element, after the springhes passed across the same during the stylusdiiiting movement of element.

' The eoinhinntion with the pivoted needle-emrryino; element; of e phonograph of an ltl'lll connected therewith, 2t spring on siiid iii-in. adapted to yield in one direction, and on n iplinnee c iiperati with said one to ohstrnct the pivotal HHWCKBCllt of the element after the swing has passed across the same during the ;lns-lii*'ting movement. of the e ennenti. said appliance having means to permit of the return movement of the eleinsl position.

cinnoinzition with said rail to obstruct the return movement of e the same.

needle-carrying. elementof a phonograph, of an arm connected therewith, a spring on said am, adapted to yield in one direction, and a rail cooperating with saidv arm to obstruct the pivotal movement of the element after the spring has passed across the same during the stylusrlifting movement of the element.

5. The combination with the pivoted needle-carrying element of a phonograph, of,

an arm' connected therewith, a rail disposed to obstruct the i-votal movement of the element, and a yielding member adapted to permit of said arm passing across said rail at a determinate pointin the stylus-lifting movement of said element, whereby to cause 6. The combination with the pivoted I needle-carrying element of a phonograph, of

needle-carrying element of a phonograph, of an arm connected therewith, a spring on said arm, adapted to yield in one direction, and a 'rail cooperating with said 'arm to obstruct the pivotal movement of the element after the spring has passed across the same during the stylns-liftlng movement of the element, there being a space at an end of said rail for the passage of said arm to permit of a return movement of the element to its original position.

8. The combination with the pivoted needle-carrying element of a phonograph, of an arm connected therewith, a spring on said arm, adapted to yield in one direction, a rail cooperating with said arm to obstruct the pivotal movement of the element after the spring has passed across the same during the stylus-lifting movement of the element, and stops at opposite ends of said rail to limit the pivotal movement of the arm in a lateral direction, there being a port between one of said stops and the ad acent end of the rail, tor the passage of said arm to permit of a returnmovement of the element to its original position.

9. The combination with the pivoted tonearm of a phonograph, of a pro ecting member thereon, and a relat1ve1y stationary member cooperating with the first-mentioned member to obstruct a downward movement of the tone-arm after the member thereon has passed the stationary member during upward movement of the same, one

of the said members being capable of yielding to permit of the member on the tone-arm passing across the stationary member during said upward movement.

In testimony whereof I have atlixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE 'W. VAN NORTWICK. Witnesses:

L. Rnoanns, F. H. Coxo. 

